CNOOC starts production from offshore oilfield Wushi 23-5 

The Wushi 23-5 oilfield development project includes two new wellhead platforms and the upgraded Wushi terminal.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has announced the commencement of production at the Wushi 23-5 oilfield, reputed to be the first in the South China Sea to be powered from shore.  

This initiative is part of the state-owned oil and gas company’s efforts to enhance its low-carbon operations.

The Wushi 23-5 oilfield development project includes two new wellhead platforms and the upgraded Wushi terminal.  

The Chinese energy major plans to bring a total of 43 development wells into production, comprising 28 oil wells and 15 water-injection wells.

Situated in the Beibu Gulf at an average water depth of about 28m, the oilfield is expected to reach peak production of around 18,100 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) by 2026. 

The oil extracted is categorised as light crude.

CNOOC, which has a 100% interest in the project and serves as the operator, aims for full-process recovery and utilisation of associated gas through an integrated natural gas treatment approach.  

The launch of Wushi 23-5 is expected to set a precedent for CNOOC’s continued progression in green and low-carbon development.

The oilfield’s operation comes shortly after the Enping 21-4 Oilfield Development Project commenced production in the South China Sea.  

Enping 21-4, positioned in the eastern part of the sea at an average water depth of around 89m, will utilise existing production facilities. It projected to achieve a peak production of roughly 5,300boepd in 2025, also light crude.

Earlier in June, CNOOC reported a new hydrocarbon discovery at the ultra-deepwater Lingshui 36-1 gas field, located at an average water depth of around 1,500m.  

The field’s testing demonstrated a production capacity exceeding ten million cubic metres per day of open flow natural gas.

Read the latest issue of the OGV Energy magazine HERE